Dustin Penner was acquired at the trade deadline to improve the Caps’ flagging top six. Instead, he played garbage minutes on the bottom line. He was a huge disappointment, but was it his fault? (Not really, no.)

By the Numbers

18

Games played

12

Average time on ice per game

1

Goals

2

Assists

47.3%

Shot attempt percentage during 5v5

100%

Goal percentage during 5v5

4.9%

On-ice shooting percentage during 5v5

100%

On-ice saving percentage during 5v5

Peter’s Take

I was pretty excited about the addition of Dustin Penner to the Capitals. With Martin Erat in the rear view, it seemed for a fraction of a second that the Caps had put the bad blood behind them and brought in a productive top-six forward replacement. Nope. Dustin Penner basically filled Erat’s spot in the lineup and did nothing of note.

Imagined by some (including, I think, George McPhee) as a potential opposite wing for Alex Ovechkin, D.P. instead spent most of his time with Tom Wilson on the fourth line and a short stint opposite Troy Brouwer in the season’s final week. To his credit, Penner didn’t get scored on, but he also didn’t move the needle much.

I don’t have much more to say. No one really expects Penner to stick around, though I’d bet Barry Trotz could use him better than Adam Oates.